"Because time is of the essence, the recount will commence immediately," said the court's spokesman, Craig Waters.

The opinion overturned a ruling by Circuit Judge N Sanders Sauls, who had refused to order a recount.

"Because time is of the essence, the recount shall commence immediately," the supreme court said.

It ordered a far broader recount than Mr Gore had sought, however, saying that so-called undervotes - meaning ballots on which there was no vote for president - must be recounted in all 67 Florida counties.